Cases for containers



Se t. 18, 1962 1.. F. HUMPHREY 3,054,549

CASES FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorneys Sept. 18, 1962 L. F. HUMPHREY 3,054,549

CASES FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 14, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet z Inventor issue FkA/vz HUMP/l EY By W Allorneys P 1962 F. HUMPHREY I 3,054,549

CASES FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 111 4 I I I 24 I 24 i 4 4/ 40 -22- 4/ 5 1 n v e n10 r A 55L IE FRANK HUMP/IE5 Y P 1962 L. F. HUMPHREY 3,054,549

CASES FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4. 59- '-J9- 4/ g /yi Inventor [554 IE Eemvk HUMP/{REY Attorneys ilnited @tates Patent 3,@54,54 Patented Sept. 1%, 1962 3,454,549 CASES FGR con'rananns Leslie Frank Humphrey, London, England, assignor to Albert E. Reed and Company Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Feb. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 89,249 Claims prlority, application Great Britain Feb. 15, 19%

19 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to cases or outer protective packages for containers.

It is well known to provide containers of material such as polyethylene and such containers which are generally of relatively large capacity of say five gallons are frequently made with very thin walls which makes it desirable to provide a strong protective outer case for them.

It is for example known to provide a corrugated box of rectangular section with a separate liner therein within which a generally cylindrical thin wall polyethylene container having a neck on the axis of the cylinder is disposed. In order to locate and hold the container, top flap portions on the liner have been provided with half moon shaped cut outs to engage around the axially extending neck of the container.

In order to facilitate pouring out the contents of containers, particularly of a capacity of the order of five gallons it is well known to provide containers of polyethylene and of other materials of the type having a shape similar to that of containers known as Jerricans. This type of container which is of generally rectangular cross section has at its upper end an inclined wall extending from one side wall to the top wall which inclined wall is generally at right angles to a diagonal of the whole container. The pouring neck, nozzle or spout extends from this inclined-wall. It is frequently necessary for containers of this type to be provided with a protective casing if, for instance, they are of thin wall construction, fragile material or otherwise in need of protection during transit or storage. Casings for such containers can of course be tailor made from corrugated board to fit the contour of the container but this means that the casing would be of irregular shape involving stacking difliculties and would furthermore tend to be weak along the inclined side where the neck, nozzle or spout is located.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved case for containers of the type which have an inclined wall in which the pouring neck, nozzle or spout is located when overcomes these difiiculties.

According to the invention there is provided a case or protective packing of cardboard, corrugated board or similar lightweight material for a container of the type described which case or packing is in the form of a box of a cross section and height corresponding respectively to the cross section and height of the container to be carried therein, said box having at its upper end first and second oppositely disposed foldable top flaps which serve to close the box, the first of said flaps having a portion hingedly connected to a side wall of the box at a level adjacent the lower edge of the said inclined wall of the container and having an aperture therein adapted to fit over the pouring neck, nozzle or spout of such container, said portion having two hingedly connected extensions which when the said portion is disposed on said inclined wall are foldable back over the neck, nozzle or spout with the outermost extension engageable with the side wall of the box to provide a square corner covering said inclined wall.

The said first flap may be integrally formed with the side wall of the box, cuts being provided in the side wall to release the said apertured portion therefrom whilst leaving the remainder of the said wall on either side of said portion and above its hinge line to receive the said outermost extension as a tuck in flap when the box is closed.

The edge of this outermost extension is preferably provided with a finger hole or tab to facilitate opening it, and if desired the first or innermost extension may be provided with a tab hingedly released therefrom to provide a hand hole to facilitate pouring the contents of the container without removing it from the box.

The second of said top flaps will always extend to the upper or top edge of the said inclined wall and preferably has an extension thereon with a cut out therein so shaped as to embrace the neck, nozzle or pouring spout when the extension lies over the said inclined wall or part thereof.

\Vhilst the box can be closed merely by securing the said first and second top flaps together with adhesive tape it is preferred to provide two further top flaps hingedly connected to the other two side walls which further top flaps are foldable onto the first mentioned top flaps when the box is closed.

These two further top flaps may be formed to overlie only the said second top flap, but preferably have hingedly connected extensions forming panels overlying the said square corner, when the box is closed, which panels may be lifted to expose only the said square corner covering the pouring neck.

Further extensions may be provided on the two further top flaps, or on the panel extensions thereof if provided, which can fold down over that part of the front wall of the box which is cut away to form the said hingedly connected portion which in use lies on the inclined wall of the container.

Whilst a case or packing as above set forth is suitable for many containers it is further preferred to provide a reinforcing sleeve of corrugated board, cardboard or shnilar material to fit within said box. This sleeve may for example be made from a rectangular blank scored or hinged to provide a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall. T

In order further to strengthen the case in the region of the said inclined wall of the container the front wall of the sleeve may be provided with extension tabs of for instance triangular shape which are cut from the side walls of the sleeve, an upper portion of the front wall of the sleeve being hingedly connected to the remainder thereof and having a cut out in its edge adapted to embrace the pouring neck, nozzle or spout when said upper portion lies on said inclined wall with the extension tabs tucked between the side walls of the sleeve and the side walls of the box.

In order further to facilitate handling the box and container a hand hole may be provided in the bottom of the box, and also in its side walls.

In order that the invention may be well understood two preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a cardboard blank from which an outer box according to the first embodiment is assembled.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a thin walled container surrounded by an inner sleeve.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-section of a closed box, sleeve, and container according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of a box according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the box of the first embodiment, sleeve, and container opened ready for pouring.

FIGURE 6 shows a cardboard blank from which an outer box according to the second embodiment is assembled.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are front and top elevations of a closed box according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment disposed for pouring.

The first preferred embodiment, referring to FIGURES 1 to is suitable as a case or protective packing for a thin walled container 1 of generally rectangular cross section and having an inclined wall 2 extending between a side wall 3 and its upper surface 4, which inclined wall has a pouring neck 5 closeable by any suitable stopper 6.

The case or packing comprises a box 7 of double faced corrugated board of rectangular cross section having conventional overlapping bottom flaps 8, 9- hingedly connected to the four sides 10, 11, 12 thereof. Two opposite side walls 11 of the box 7 each have a hand hole 13 cut therein. The outer bottom flap 8 which is connected to what will be the rear wall 12 of the box has a handhole 14 cut therein to facilitate gripping the bottom of the box 7 when the contents of the container 1 are to be poured without removing it from the box.

The rear wall 12 of the box 7 has a top flap 15 hingedly connected thereto and this flap 15 has a hingedly connected extension 16 provided with a cut out 17 in its edge which is shaped to embrace half of the periphery of the pouring neck 5 when said flap 15 rests on the top 4 of the container and the extension 16 rests on part of the inclined wall 2 thereof.

The front wall of the box 7 has a top flap which consists of a portion 18 cut out from but hingedly connected to the front wall at 19 at the level of the lower edge of the inclined wall 2 of the container, this portion has an aperture 20 therein shaped to receive the pouring neck 5 of the container 1 therethrough. This portion has two extensions 21, 22 hingedly connected thereto, the inner extension 21 being arranged to be foldable about a fold line 42 so that it can extend parallel to the plane of the top wall 4 of the container 1, when the apertured portion 18 engages over the pouring neck 5 and rests on their:- clined wall 2 of the container, whilst the outer extension 22 which is hinged to the inner extension 21 can serve as a tuck in flap, having a cut-out 32 forming extensions 33, as shown in FIGURE 1, extending down inside the front wall 10 of the box 7, as shown in FIGURE 3, a finger hole 34 also being provided to facilitate the lifting of extensions 21 and 22 of portion 18 to prepare the box 7 for pouring. In this closed position the said portion 18 and two extensions 21, 22 are folded into a tube of right angled triangular cross section with the said apertured portion 18 constituting the hypotenuse. In this way a regular right angled front top corner 23 is provided for the box to cover and protect the inclined wall 2 of the container. The remainder of the top of the container will be closed and covered by the said top flap connected to the rear wall 12 of the box. The said two side walls 11 having hand holes 13 therein each have top flaps 24 foldable on top of the top flaps 15, 21 as shown in FIGURE 3 so as finally to close the box.

In order further to strengthen the box a corrugated board sleeve 25 is provided inside the box 7. This sleeve is open at the top and bottom and has hingedly connected front, rear and side walls which fit within the box 7 and engage around the container 1. The front wall 26 of the sleeve 25 has a hinge line 27 extending across it at the level of the lower edge of the inclined wall of the container and a triangular tab 28 cut out of each side Wall of the sleeve is integrally connected to each side of the portion 29 of the front wall above the said hinge line 27. The edge of this portion 29 has a cut out therein which engages half the periphery of the pouring neck 5 of the container and which registers with the cut out 17 in the extension 16 on the rear top flap 15, when said portion 29 and said extension 16 both rest on the inclined wall 2 of the container 1. In this position the said tri- 4 angular tabs 28 extend between the side walls of the box and the side walls 31 of the sleeve 25 to hold the front wall portion 29 firmly against the inclined wall 2 of the container 1.

It will be understood that when the container is inside the sleeve 25 and box 7 the inclined wall 2 and top wall 4 thereof are first covered by the front wall portion 26 of the sleeve 25 and the rear wall top flap 15 and extension 16 of the box 7, whereafter the apertured front wall portion 18 of the box 7 is fitted over the pouring neck 5 of the container 1 to lie parallel to the inclined wall 2 thereof. The two extensions 21, 22 of the said portion 18 of the front wall top fiap of the box 7 are then folded into the wedge shaped tube above described to provide a strong square corner 23 to the closed box 7, thus reducing risk of damage to the container and providing a case of regular shape.

The innermost extension 21 of the front wall top flap 18 has a hand hole 30 cut therein which, when the said extensions 21, 22 are folded back towards the rear wall 12 of the box 7 to expose the pouring neck 5, as in FIGURE 5, can be gripped with one hand so that with the hand hole 14 in the bottom of the box 7 the contents of the container 1 can readily be poured.

The second preferred embodiment, shown in FIGURES 6 to 9 is for the most part similar to the first and so only those parts which differ will now be described in any detail.

A box 35 is constructed from a blank of double faced corrugated board shaped as shown in FIGURE 6. The construction of this box 35 is identical with that of the box 7 of the first embodiment except in the construction of the side wall top flaps 24, the apertured portion 18 and its extension 21.

The top flaps 24 of the box 35 are divided by fold lines 36 and panels 37 so formed are separated from sides 11 by slits 38 as can be seen in FIGURE 6. Top flap extensions 39 are provided, extending sideways from panels 37 and hingedly connected thereto. It is apparent from FIGURE 6 that these top flap extensions 39 must be formed from the material which is used for the extension 21 in the first embodiment if the box 35 is to be formed from a single integral blank. Hence in the box 35 the shape of extension 21 is somewhat different from that of box 7 of the first embodiment.

It will be seen in FIGURE 4 that when the box 7 is closed there is a trapezoidal portion 40 of the front wall 10 of the box which is formed of only a single thickness of material. This might possibly constitute a weak point in the box and also leaves edges 41 which may be caught and torn whilst the box is in transit. The top flap extensions 39 are accordingly made in such a manner that, when the box 35 is closed, they are folded down to cover the said trapezoidal portion 40, as seen in FIGURE 7 to give added strength to this part of the box.

When the box 35 is closed the fold lines 36 and 42 are adjacent to one another and panels 37 overlie the said extension 21. Accordingly, the lower faces of panels 37 are glued to the upper face of extension 21, and the lower faces of top flaps 24 are glued to the upper face of top flap 15, with the extensions 33 of panels 37 folded down over trapezoidal portion 40.

To open the box 35 for pouring it is only necessary to fold the neck-concealing parts back about the substantially coincident fold lines 36 and 42 by inserting a finger in finger hole 34 and lifting. The neck aperture 27 in portion 18 is extended up to fold line 42 so that it can also be used as a handle for pouring.

The boxes of both the first and second embodiments are secured for transit or storage by adhesive tape or in any other convenient manner.

I claim:

1. In combination, a case and a thinwalled container therein, said container having a generally fiat top wall portion and an inclined top wall portion at the front thereof, there being a pouring spout in said inclined top portion, said case being of sheet material in the form of a box of a cross-section and height corresponding respectively to the cross-section and height of said container, said box having at its upper end first and second oppositely disposed foldable top flaps which serve to close the box, said first flap having a portion hingedly connected to the front wall of the box at a level adjacent the lower edge of the said inclined wall of the container and having an aperture therein fitting over the pouring spout of the container, said portion overlying and engaging said inclined wall and having two hingedly connected extensions, one extension being folded back over the spout substantially coplanar with said flat top wall portion with the outermost extension extending downwardly and substantially coplanar with the front wall of the box to provide a square corner, covering said inclined wall.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said first flap is integrally connected to said front wall, cuts being provided in the front wall to release the said apertured portion therefrom whilst leaving the remainder of the said wall on either side of said portion and above its hinge line to receive the said outermost extension as a tuck in flap when the box is closed.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 including a reinforcing sleeve shaped to surround the sides of said container and fitting inside the case.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which said reinforcing sleeve comprises a rectangular blank of cardboard or the like hinged to provide a front wall, two side walls and a rear wall.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the front wall of the said sleeve has a hingedly connected upper portion with a cut out in its edge adapted to embrace substantially half said pouring spout and hingedly connected tabs at each side thereof which extend between the side walls of the case and the side walls of the sleeve, the said upper portion of the front wall of the sleeve resting on the said inclined wall of the container.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the said second top flap has a hingedly connected extension with a cut out in its edge embracing substantially half of the periphery of the pouring spout, the said second top flap resting on the top of the container and its extension resting on part of the said inclined wall.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 having two further oppositely disposed top flaps hingedly connected to the side walls and "overlying said first and second top flaps when the case is closed.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 in which the parts of said further top flaps overlying the said square corner are hingedly connected to the remainder of said further flaps to permit the exposure of said square corner.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7 in which said further top flaps have hingedly connected extensions folded down over the said square corner.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 1 having handle-forming holes cut on the bottom and on the said first top flap of said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,707 Rice Dec. 11, 1934 2,485,816 Dalsemer Oct. 25, 1949 2,616,610 Tomarin Nov. 4, 1952 2,946,494 Kuss July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 836,246 Great Britain June 1, 1960 

